Burial vault



July 25, 1939.

R. SIMPSON BURIAL VAULT Filed Feb. 17, 1938 Patented July 25, 1939UNITED yS'ITATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

The present invention.relatestotburial vault constructions. Moreparticularly, the invention is directed to modifications of orimprovements on vaults of the type shown and described in my 5 copendingapplication Serial No. 137,337, filed April 16, 1937, now Patent No.2,111,462.

It is an object of the invention to improve the construction of vaultsof the fcregoing type, .particularly as regards the concrete, stone, ormasonry parts thereof. It isla further object of the invention toprovide means for preventingthe moisture which forms on the interiorsurface of theivaultfrom collecting therein. To this end, novel meansare provided to-effect 15 drainage of such moisture, without permittingpassage of air or gases to andfrom vthe inside and the outside of thevault.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a vault which `ischaracterized by great strength and ruggedness, so that the vault willnot deteriorate in anyfmanner vthroughout the lapse of time.

In the accompanying drawing, two vforms of the invention are disclosed.It must' be undery25 stood that the vinvention lis not limited to the 30In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal `sectional view of oneform of vault.

Figure 2 is a sectional lview on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

`35 Figure '3 is a vertical vlongitudinal sectional view of a secondform of vault, and

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The vault preferably comprises a monolithic, concrete foundation slabIl) adapted to be positioned in the bottom of the grave. A slab of thiskind is desirable because it increases the bearing surface in the groundand serves to distribute the weight of the vault over a large area. As a45 result, settling of the vault in the ground and lateral tipping ofthe same is prevented. The foundation slab is provided around its .uppermargin with a rabbeted portion comprising inclined surfaces II and I2.These surfaces support the lower edges of the base portion t3 which, inFigure 1,-cornprises a top wall-I4, end Walls I5, I6,.and side walls II,I8. The lower edges of the yside and end walls are downwardly andoutwardly inclined, as indicated, and mate'withfthe downwardly andoutwardly inclined surface I I of thefoundation slab.

The top wall i4 of the base serves as a casket supporting floor and itsupper surface is inclined 60 downwardly and inwardly toward a centralaperture I9, which `serves vas a drainage hole, as

box or hood. The lower edges of the side and end walls are preferablydownwardly and outwardly inclined,-asshewn in the drawing, to rest uponand mate with'the Ainclined surfaces 2l! around the upper margin of thebase.

A cover slab 28 may be positioned upon the top wall 23. This slabandfhea'd stone L29 `may be made from decorative materiaLsuch as marble,limestone, or the like.

Within the casket receptacle there is positioned an innercasing `3i!which is preferably similar to the inner casing'shown in the copendingapplication referred to above. In the present case, however, the innercasing fhas its top Wall 3l and its side vand end walls`=32 and'33spaced from the inner-faces of the adjacent walls of the casketreceptacle. This spacing of the walls is advantageous, since itfacilitatespositioning of the heavy concrete `outer casing over ltheinner casing after the latter has been putin place over the casketsupported on the base i4.

The: lower edges 'ofthe inner casing are sunk in the grooves 22 `andsealed therein with an appropriate waterproof,asphaltic cement. The

-inner casing is preferably made of sheet copper formed therein a doublereverse bend or goose neck :36, thereby-providing a trap to prevent thelpassage of air and gases betweenthe casket receptacle and the hollow,downwardly opening space in the base. The lower end of the pipe- 35 ispositioned adjacent the'foundation slab Ill.

It 'will be appreciated from the above that an extremely rugged andefficient vault is provided Vbythe construction shownin Figures l and 2.Means ware..provide'd for draining'the moisture Azo which collects onthe inner faces of the casket receptacle. The moisture which may bepresent inside of the inner casing will drain downwardly through thepipe 35 to the space in the hollowA Vthe foregoing primarily in that thebase and the side and end walls of the casket receptacle are integral.The base I4', as in the previous case, forms the iioor of the casketreceptacle. Around its margins, it is provided with downwardlyprojecting flanges forming end walls l5', I6 and side walls l1', I8'.The joint between the lower edges of these walls and the foundation slabl!) is the same as previously described.

Around the marginsl of the floor I4', there are formed upwardlyprojecting flanges providing side walls 24', 25' and end walls 26', 21'of a casket receiving receptacle. The upper end of the casket receptacleis closed by a cover slab 23', having a rabbeted joint connection 4i!with the side walls. This jointl may be dry, or it may be sealedsubstantially in the manner shown in my aforesaid copending application.

The inner casing 30' in the second form is the same as that shown inFigure l, with the` exception that a plurality of openings or notches 4Iare provided along the lower edgeof the side and end walls to permitmoisture which may collect on the inner faces of the walls 2421' to flowinwardly to the opening I9'. From this point, the moisture drains in themanner previously described.

Preferably the foundation slab, the base, and the walls of the casketreceptacle, in both forms of the invention, are made of reinforced, castconcrete. The reinforcing means may be the conventional steelreinforcing elements used in similar concrete structures.

The parts are made by pouring the concrete into appropriately shapedmolds, in the usual manner.

As a result of the novel features of the present invention, an improvedburial vault4 of the surfaceftype is pr-ovided. The parts aresufficiently heavy to withstand the deteriorating effects of time, andas a result, the contents of the casket will be preserved indefinitely.

As stated above, all modifications coming within the scope of theappended claims or their equivalents, are within the invention.

I claim:

1. A burial vault construction comprising, in combination, a foundationslab, a base comprising a top wall and side and end walls supportedalong thel margins of said slab and providing a hollow, downwardlyopening chamber above said slab, a casket receiving chamber above thetop wall of the base comprised of side and end walls aligned with thecorresponding walls of the base and projecting upwardly therefrom and atop wall supported thereby, and a preformed, unitary sheet metal innercasing within said chamber comprising a top wall and side and end wallshermetically sealed along their meeting joints and having an openbottom.

2. A burial vault construction comprising, in combination, a foundationslab, a base comprising a top wall and side and end Walls supportedalong the margins of said slab and providing a hollow, downwardlyopening chamber above said slab, a casket receiving chamber above thebase, the top wall of the base forming the bottom wall of the chamber,said chamber being further comprised of side and end walls aligned withthe corresponding walls of the base and projecting upwardly therefromand a top wall supported thereby, and a preformed, unitary sheet metalinner casing supported on the bottom wall of said chamber and comprisinga top wall and side and end walls hermetically sealed along theirmeeting joints and having an open bottom, said open bottom beingeffective to permit the casing to be lowered upon the bottom wall of thechamber to enclose a casket supported thereon prior to the closing ofthe chamber.

3. A burial vault construction comprising, in combination, a foundationslab having a rabbeted edge around the margins of its upper surface, abase portion comprising a top wall and Y side and end walls supportedalong said rabbeted edge and providing a hollow, downwardly openingchamber, a casket receiving receptacle portion above said base portionhaving its bottom surface formed by the top wall of said base portionand comprising side and ends by walls projecting upwardly from andaligned with the corresponding walls of the base portion and a top wallcarried thereby, and drainage means leading from the interior of saidcasket receiving receptacle to the hollow space in said base, wherebyfluid may pass from the former to the latter and drain therefrom oversaid rabbeted edge of the foundation slab.

4. A burial vault construction comprising, in

combination, a foundation slab, a unitary base supported thereon andcomprising side, end and top walls providing a hollow, downwardlyopening space, a casket receptacle above the base comprising unitaryside and end walls extending upwardly from the corresponding walls ofsaid base and a top wall carried thereby, and an inner sheet metalcasing in said receptacle comprising a unitary, preformed structureincluding side, end and top walls hermetically sealed along theirmeeting edges and having an open bottom.

5. A burial vault comprising a foundation slab, a base supported alongthe edges thereof and comprising unitary side, end and top wallsproviding a hollow interior space having an open bottom closed by saidslab, and a casket receptacle above said base, the bottom, casketsupporting surface of said receptacle being formed by the top wall ofsaid base, said receptacle further comprising unitary side and endwalls, a top wall carried thereby, and a sheet metal inner casingsupported kon said bottom surface, said casing being preformed andcomprising sheet metal top and side walls hermetically sealed alongtheir meeting joints and having an open bottom, said open bottom beingeffective to permit the casing to be lowered upon said surface toenclose a casket supported thereon prior to the closing of thereceptacle.

6. A burial vault comprising a unitary base having side, end and topwalls providing a hollow, downwardly opening interior space, the lowerends of said walls being adapted to be supported substantially at thebottom of a grave, and a casket receptacle above said base, the casketsupporting surface of said receptacle being formed by the top wall ofsaid base, said receptacle further comprising unitary side and endwalls, a top wall carried thereby, and a drain pipe eX- tending throughthe casket supporting surface to a point adjacent the bottom of thebase.

7. A burial vault comprising a unitary base having side, end and topwalls providing a hollow, downwardly opening interior space, the lowerends of said walls being adapted to be supported substantially at thebottom of a grave, and a casket receptacle above said base, the casketsupporting surface of said receptacle being formed by the top wall ofsaid base, said receptacle further comprising unitary side and endwalls, a top wall carried thereby, and drainage means for the casketreceptacle, comprising a pipe extending through said casket supportingsurface downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of the base, said pipehavingr a goose-neck bend therein providing an air seal.

8. A burial vault comprising a base having unitary side, end and topwalls providing a hollow downwardly opening interior space and a casketreceptacle above said base, the casket supporting surface of saidreceptacle being formed by the top wall of said base, said receptaclefurther comprising unitary side and end walls, a top wail carriedthereby, a preformed sheet metal inner casing supported on said bottomsurface comprising sheet metal top and side walls hermetically sealedalong their meeting joints and having an open bottom, said open bottombeing effective to permit the casing to be lowered upon said supportingsurface to enclose a casket supported thereon prior to the closing ofthe receptacle, and drainage means for the space enclosed within saidinner casing, said means comprising a pipe extending through saidsupporting surface to a point at the bottom of said base.

9. A burial vault comprising a base having an upper, substantiallyhorizontal casket supporting surface, and downwardly extending side andend walls integral therewith providing a lower, downwardly openinghollow space, means for supporting said base in a grave, and a casketenclosing receptacle supported on said base, said receptacle comprisingintegral, top, side and end walls and an open bottoni, said bottom beingclosed by the top wall of said, base.

if). A burial vault comprising a base having an upper, substantiallyhorizontal casket supporting surface, and downwardly extending side andend walls integral therewith and adapted to be supported adjacent thebottom of a grave and providing a lower, downwardly opening hollowspace, a casket enclosing receptacle supported on said base, saidreceptacle comprising integral top, side and end walls and an openbottom, said bottom being closed by the top wall of said base, and asheet metal inner casing supported on said casket supporting surface,said casing being preformed and comprising sheet metal top and sidewalls hermetically sealed along their meeting joints and having an openbottom, said open bottom being effective to permit the casing to belowered upon said casket supporting surface to enclose a casket thereon,pior to the closing of the receptacle.

l1. A vault construction comprising a base and a casket enclosingreceptacle, said base comprising a supporting fioor and side and endwalls integral therewith and projecting downwardly therefrom, the upperouter margins of the base being provided with downwardly and outwardlyinclined surfaces, said receptacle comprising a top wall and downwardlyprojecting side and end walls integral therewith, the lower edges ofsaid downwardly projecting walls being provided with downwardly andoutwardly inclined surfaces mating with the surfaces on said base,whereby moisture may drain downwardly and outwardly through the jointbetween the inclined surfaces.

12. A vault construction comprising a substantially horizontal casketsupporting floor, downwardly projecting supporting flanges extendingaround the margins of said oor and supported substantially at the bottomof a grave, a casket enclosing hood comprising a top wall and integraldownwardly projecting side and end walls adapted to be supported alongtheir lower edges around the margins of said iioor, and moisturedrainage means comprising a pipe positioned substantially centrally withrespect to said floor and extending therethrough, said pipe having agooseneck bend therein pr-oviding a liquid seal to prevent the passageof air and gas through said drainage means.

13. A vault construction comprising a unitary, cast concrete foundationslab adapted to be placed inthe bottom of a grave, a substantiallyhorizontal casket supporting floor spaced upwardly from said slab,downwardly projecting supporting flanges extending around the margins ofsaid floor and supported at their lower ends on the margins of saidslab, a casket enclosing hood comprising a top wall and integraldownwardly projecting side and end walls adapted to be supported alongtheir lower edges around the margins of said floor, and moisturedrainage means comprising a pipe positioned substantially centrally withrespect to said floor and extending therethrough and terminatingadjacent the upper surface of said foundation slab, said pipe having agooseneck bend therein providing a liquid seal to prevent the passage ofair and gas through said drainage means.

lll. A vault construction comprising, in combination, a foundation slab,a substantially horizontal casket supporting floor, and upwardly anddownwardly projecting marginal flanges formed integrally with said door,the downwardly projecting flanges being supported upon said slab anddening'a hollow space below said floor, the upwardly projecting flangesdening a casket receiving chamber, a cover slab for said chamber, and apreformed inner casing comprising sheet metal top and side wallshermetically sealed along their meeting joints and having an openbottom, said open bottom being effective to permit the casing to belowered upon said :door to enclose a casket supported thereon prior tothe closing of said chamber.

l5. A vault construction comprising, in combination, a foundation slab,a substantially hori- Zontal casket supporting door, and upwardly anddownwardly projecting marginal flanges formed integrally with saidfloor, the downwardly projecting flanges being supported upon said slaband dening a hollow space below said floor, the upwardly projectingflanges defining a casket receiving chamber, a cover slab for saidchamber, a preformed inner casing comprising sheet metal top and sidewalls hermetically sealed along their meeting joints and having an openbottom, said open bottom being effective to permit 'the casing to belowered upon said oor to enclose a casket supported thereon prior to theclosing of said chamber, and drainage means comprising a pipe extendingthrough said floor from a point within said inner casing to a pointadjacent said foundation slab.

ROBERT SIMPSON.

